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<a target="_blank" href="http://www.bmc-racing.com/us-en/home.html">BMC Racing</a> will be on the new Granfondo GF01 bike for Roubaix, which is based on its Team Machine SLR01. <a target="_blank" href="http://bicycling.com/blogs/boulderreport/tag/alessandro-ballan/">Alessandro Ballan</a>&rsquo;s bike, seen here, features a more aggressively sloped top tube, a taller head tube and longer wheelbase than the Team Machine. The seatstays are also flattened for a bit of flex. Not all riders like the taller head tubes of classics-style bikes, even if they need the more stable geometry and better tire clearance. Note the 140mm stem, run with zero spacers on the headset (most bike and forkmakers recommend at least one 5mm spacer to prevent stress risers).

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The fork on the new BMC Granfondo GF01 features a new take on a classic idea for improving ride quality: concentrate the fork rake in one section of the fork to help it flex. Old-style <a target="_blank" href="http://www.bicycling.com/gearfinderproductlist?gfpagetype=subcategory&am... bikes</a> featured straight fork blades with a pronounced curve toward the dropout. BMC, similarly, builds almost all of the fork rake into the last few centimeters near the drops, to offer a bit of flex over rough roads.

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Chain guides are increasingly popular on pro bikes, even those with super-accurate <a target="_blank" href="http://www.bicycling.com/bikes-gear/new-bike-gear-previews/shimano-ulteg... drivetrains</a>. Many mount to the front derailleur, but BMC&rsquo;s new bike appears to use one built into the bottom bracket shell instead. We&rsquo;re not sure what is gained by this setup, but it&rsquo;s a novel way to approach the issue of dropped chains.

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As mentioned last week, we nabbed spy shots of what appears to be a new <a target="_blank" href="http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bc/home.jsp">Specialized</a> Roubaix in Saxo Bank&rsquo;s service course truck. The new bikes feature a head tube/downtube interface that seems similar to the aero Venge, but with subtly different Zertz vibration-damping inserts on the fork and seatstays.

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The new seatstay-mounted Zertz, seen clearly here in the red outline, are substantially bigger than on 2012 model year Roubaix frames. Also, where existing Zertz inserts press into a window on the seatstay, the new ones appear to slide into an open slot, perhaps playing a bit more of a structural or supporting role while offering flex to soak up <a target="_blank" href="http://www.bicycling.com/news/2010-tour-de-france/coach-tips-riding-roug... roads and bumps</a>.

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Tires are a huge concern for teams at races like Paris-Roubaix. They not only need larger volume (27mm wide, compared to a normal 23mm) to soften the pounding riders take on the cobbles, but they need supple sidewalls for low rolling resistance on the long paved sections and fine, grippy tread patterns for the slick granite stones. Most teams have tire sponsors but for Roubaix, there&rsquo;s a knowing exception as teams purchase special tires from Dugast or <a target="_blank" href="http://fmbtires.com/">FMB</a>, some of the last European-based tiremakers. These Specialized-labeled tires are given away by the telltale green sidewalls as handmade FMB Paris-Roubaix Pro tubulars.

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Teams order stacks of special Classics-only tires each winter, and mechanics must glue up dozens of wheels before the cobbled Classics get underway. One savvy trick is to use masking tape on the rim sidewall before mounting the tire. Whatever glue on the tire gets onto the rim during installation simply rubs off on the tape, which is then pulled away to reveal a pristine brake track.

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Whether via longer wheelbases or special modified frames with longer dropouts to increase clearance for the larger tires, Classics equipment puts demands on other parts of the bike. Here, note the <a target="_blank" href="http://www.bicycling.com/maintenance/repair-maintenance/replace-worn-bra... pad</a> position in the calipers, slotted to the lowest point in the caliper arms.

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Many teams opt to go to even further extremes, keeping a handful of <a target="_blank" href="http://www.bicycling.com/cyclocross">cyclocross</a> frames on hand, like this Cannondale SuperSix carbon &lsquo;cross bike in the Liquigas-Cannondale truck. The cantilever brakes and mud-clearing frame designs offer unparalleled tire clearance, while the slacker geometry&mdash;which would be a hindrance in a normal road race&mdash;actually becomes welcome on the 51 kilometers of cobblestone roads riders encounter at Roubaix.

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The cobblestone roads of northern Europe have a tendency to dirty and rattle loose anything that&rsquo;s not glued, nailed, or taped down. Teams use electrical tape on items like valve stems to limit rattling that is not only annoying, but could cause a mechanical problem. Team wrenches also tape brake levers on spare bikes to keep dirt and rain out of shifters while they're on the cars.<br />

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SRAM launched its new Red groupset in February and most SRAM-equipped teams now have the new parts&mdash;but not all. This Saxo Bank rig features a Quarq powermeter-equipped Specialized S-Works crankset with the older SRAM Red chainrings and front derailleur.